Redefining Exceptional Real Estate Services

Behind the Scenes with Tampa International Airport

The Tomlin St Cyr Real Estate Services team recently got an exclusive tour of Tampa International Airport, one of the most highly-touted airports in the nation. Currently in the process of a three-phase Master Plan update – decongestion, enabling and expansion, TPA is growing with a “build as demand dictates” approach to growth. It was a treat to get an inside look at the property and the airport’s practices.

“I loved learning about all of the new international flights that are coming to Tampa,” said Ali St. Cyr, Broker Owner at TSC. “It was also very interesting to learn that the airport does not make money off of new airlines contracting to fly into Tampa, but rather they make money mostly off of the parking!”

Florida is the only state with four large hubs: Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. Approximately 43 million visitors come to Florida each year on commercial airlines. The airports in Florida support more than 1.3 million jobs with $144 billion in annual economic activity or output.

TPA by the numbers:

4 airsides

58 gates

4 miles of baggage conveyor systems

3,300 acres

21 million+ passengers a year

3 runways

23,000 parking spaces

~500 daily operations

You might be surprised to know that nearly a third of the airport’s revenue, or $70.6 million, is from parking, with 25 percent from airlines, 18 percent from car rentals, 13 percent from concessions, one percent interest income with the remaining listed as “other revenues.” Tampa International Airport collects no taxes for operations.

New nonstop international flights from TPA include flights to London, Cuba, Iceland, Bahamas, Panama City, Frankfurt, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland with the addition of Amsterdam in 2019. Current targets for future international flight are Dublin, Manchester, Mexico City, Bogota and Lima.